Meknes

33.8926

-5.552

Image:
The beautiful Bab Mansour

Image:
These sturdy walls protected the city for centuries

Image:
The minaret dominates the Meknes skyline

Of Morocco’s four Imperial Cities, Meknes is possibly the least well-known – not as large as Rabat, as fashionable as Marrakech, or as famous as Fez – and you might say that this is to its advantage as you’ll find this historic place quieter and more laid back than its sister cities.
It’s an enchanting place to visit, with winding narrow streets, a classic medina and grand buildings that hail back to its time as the capital of Morocco. Nearby are the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the tomb of Moulay Idriss – two of the most important historical sites in the kingdom. But Meknes is also a modern, lively city with a vibrant nightlife, plenty of bars and a welcoming attitude towards visitors.

What To

Do here

Where To

Stay Here

How To

Get Here

Select An Experience

Meknes Cultural Festivals

Meknes Culture

Meknes Cycling

Meknes Food and Drink

Meknes Golf

Meknes Heritage

Meknes Motorcycling

Meknes People

Meknes Cultural Festivals

Image: The fantastically skilled horsemen of Morocco

Meknes plays host to two renowned cultural festivals. The Festival of Volubilis takes place every September. It’s an event to celebrate the history of the nearby ruined city of Volubilis, which was once Roman, then occupied by the Amazigh and the Arabs and then the seat of power for many major Moroccan dynasties. The festival was once held at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, but to preserve the ruins it was moved to Meknes where you can enjoy free musical performances from Moroccan and international performers.

Meknes is also famous for its Fantasia, a mock horse battle where hundreds of horsemen and women gallop in a line firing synchronised shots in the air. It’s a traditional and stunning spectacle that will be one of the highlights of your stay.

Meknes Culture

Image:
A carriage in the old medina of Meknes

Image:
A gate to the old town

Meknes is an Moroccan gem that is a more popular destination with Moroccans than people from overseas. This means it’s a great place for tourists who want to immerse themselves in the real Morocco, and allows you to really enjoy the culture of Meknes that is relatively untouched by modern trends.

As ever, the heart of the city is the medina. Ornately decorated gates punctuate the 40 kms of ramparts that surround the city; each is a work of art in its own right. Once inside you’ll find beautiful blue and green murals lining the walls, traditional souks and, in the evenings, an army of acrobats, street-artists, storytellers and fire-eaters who recreate the folk culture that has existed in this part of the world for centuries.

Another important feature of Meknes culture are the craftspeople of the city. Over 50,000 work every day to create woodcarvings, weaving, leather and damascening.

Meknes Cycling

Image: Test your nerve and brakes with some excellent offroading

Enter the old imperial city of Meknes through the stunning Bab Monsour gate and you’ll be in a place with plenty to see and do, but without the frantic hustle and bustle you’ll find in Fez, the city’s larger neighbour. Meknes is a mix of old and new, and a bicycle is one of the best ways to negotiate the narrow streets and alleys that characterise this historic place.

Pedal outside the city limits and you’ll soon be riding through a varied landscape. This is Morocco’s agricultural heartland and fields of olive trees and vineyards spread out in a patchwork before giving way to forests of cedar and oak. A good destination for cyclists to aim for is the holy town of Moulay Idriss and the nearby Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you’ll find the extensive ruins of a Roman settlement.

Meknes Food and Drink

Image: Visit the souks of Meknes for exotic sights, smells and tastes

Once the capital of Morocco, the imperial city of Meknes is surprisingly untouched by tourism, certainly compared with neighbouring Fez or Casablanca. This gives you an authentic and exciting choice when it comes to eating out.

The first place to go in any Moroccan city is the medina, where you’ll find the traditional markets. These are the places to buy street food and Moroccan specialities: fresh meat, fruit, spices and nuts are laid before you in delightful profusion.

If you want a meal in a restaurant then head to the new town and Rue Antsirape – places to eat out line both sides of the main street, whether you want the more traditional harira and couscous, or Mediterranean influenced dishes.

Meknes Golf

Image: Tee off for a royal round in Meknes

Meknes is home to one of Morocco’s older courses: the Royal Golf Meknes. It is built in the gardens of the royal palace and as you play your way around the course you can enjoy the traditional Moroccan architecture, from the green-tiled roofs and minarets of the medina, to the enormous imperial walls that surround the course. You’re not limited to playing during the daytime; powerful floodlights illuminate the course during the night, changing the look completely.

Royal Golf MeknesHoles: 9
Par: 36 (2,610m)
· Clubhouse with restaurant, bar and terrace
· Locker rooms
· Buggy, trolley and club hire
Getting There: Set in the heart of MeknesWOW FACTOR: A golf course full of historyhttp://www.moroccogolf.com/courses/meknes/

Meknes Heritage

Image:
Volubilis is a partly excavated Roman city

Image:
The ruins are one of the most treasured historical sites in the country

Image:
The famous Bab Mansour

There has been a settlement at Meknes since the ninth century. Originally an Amazigh tribe called the Miknasa lived here, before the Almoravids drove them out and founded a military settlement here in the eleventh century. Six hundred years later Meknes was the capital of Morocco, before it was moved to Rabat.

Architecturally a mix of European and Islamic design, this city has a rich heritage that is quickly evident. Nicknamed the City of a Hundred Minarets, Meknes has many mosques to see, plus the Dar El Makhzen palace, the Labhoul gardens and the Agdal Reservoir. Meknes is particularly famous for its gates, especially the Bab Mansour with its Almohad patterns and zellij mosaics. The Roman ruins of Volubilis, dating back to the third century BC, are just a short distance from Meknes.

Meknes Motorcycling

Image: There are so many great roads in and around Meknes

Meknes is a city that has a great deal to offer any biker who visits. Lying on the road between Fez and the coast, Meknes has some great countryside to see as you explore the local area. Mountain roads are commonplace in this part of Morocco, and it’s easy to reach the heights and see some breathtaking views from high up in the Atlas Mountains. Travelling around Meknes also makes more sense on the back of a bike; like many of the older Moroccan towns and cities it’s a place with narrow streets and twisting alleyways, challenging in a car but easy on two wheels.

Meknes People

Image: The friendly people of Meknes have a complex history

The history of the Meknes people is a very interesting one. It was in the 10th century that an Amazigh tribe of the Maknassa Zenetes founded the city. The Zenetes were originally from the Orient, though little if anything of this heritage remains today. In the intervening millennium the city grew under the leadership of several different dynasties, and over the years there have been influxes of Andalusian Moors, Spanish, and even Jews. This mixed grouping has not diluted the Moroccan sense of hospitality however, and when you visit this relatively undiscovered Imperial city you’ll benefit from the warmest of welcomes.

Staying In Meknes

Image: Meknes has a wide choice of fine hotels to stay in

Come to Meknes and enjoy a stay in one of the oldest cities in the kingdom. It has possibly the best range of riads in Morocco and these beautiful houses can be found all over Meknes with the largest group around the medina in the old town. They are often family run and it’s a great way to get have a real Moroccan experience every moment of your stay.
There are many hotels too, many of which have extra features such as restaurants, nightclubs and spas. At the other end of the scale there are several campsites on the outskirts of Meknes for those who want to spend the night under the stars.

Getting To Meknes

Image: The railways in Morocco are reliable and good value

Meknes is the only one of Morocco’s four Imperial Cities that doesn’t have an airport, so most people travelling here will fly into the airport at Fez or the slightly more distant Rabat. From these cities it’s a simple journey to Meknes along the A2 by bus, taxi or hire car. The main bus station can be found close to the medina, depositing you in the heart of the city.
Alternatively you can hop on the train to one of Meknes’s two stations. The first, Al-Amir Abdul Kader, is in the new town, while the larger Gare de Meknes is a bit further west. The railway is an easy way to reach Meknes from other large cities including Tangier, Casablanca and Marrakech .

Search for flights

Entries From

The Journal

Information

03/03/2016

The Imperial Cities

Fez, Marrakech, Meknes, and Rabat. Four historic cities that have played pivotal roles in the history of Morocco. Fez has been the seat of power in Morocco for four different dynasties, for a total of around 650 years. Built by Idris I between 789 and 808, since then the Marinids, Wattasids and Alouites have all…

Touring

15/04/2015

Seven Days, Seven Cities

So you’ve got a week in Morocco, how can you cram everything in? Whilst we’d recommend a more leisurely exploration of the Kingdom, here’s how you can do seven cities in seven days. Monday – Arrive in Tangier on the ferry from Spain and head for the Grand Socco, a palm-lined plaza at the entrance…